British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
