RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts down to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over the festive period. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it called a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
