British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several access tunnels leading to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
