British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several entry passages down to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who endanger our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
