Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several entry passages down to the depot... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," he commented. "They were among thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
