RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who threaten our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
