British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in hills just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
