British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of access tunnels down to the site... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
