British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel deployed over the festive period. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, highlights how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
