RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," Healey said. "They were among numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This action, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military executed what it called a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
