RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, shows how British military are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, after an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
