Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several entry passages down to the depot... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our safety, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
