British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of approach shafts leading to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces executed what it described as a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
