RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of entry passages down to the facility... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their courage," he commented. "Including them were thousands of UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
