British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages leading to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "They were among numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
