RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of access tunnels providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," he said. "They were among thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our safety, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it described as a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
