RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels down to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - established extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their valour," he commented. "They were among numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
