British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several access tunnels down to the site... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
