British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts down to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "They were part of a great many British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how British military are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
