British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages down to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN reports Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
