British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of approach shafts leading to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "They were among a great many UK service members deployed over the holidays. This action, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
