RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of a great many British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
