Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous British troops deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
