British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey said. "They were part of a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
