British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of entry passages providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of British forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
