British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
