British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces participating in this mission for their skill and their valour," he said. "They were among numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
