British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of UK service members deployed over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
