British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several entry passages providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military executed what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
