British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were part of thousands of UK service members deployed over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, shows how British military are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
