British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of entry passages down 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 on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, after an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
