RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he said. "Including them were numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
