Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several entry passages down to the depot... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their courage," he added. "Including them were numerous UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
