British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of entry passages down to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," he said. "Including them were numerous UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
