Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," he commented. "Including them were thousands of UK service members deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, shows how British military are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
