British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of entry passages down to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members deployed over the holidays. This operation, to take out militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces executed what it called a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
