British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military conducted what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
