British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of access tunnels down to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it described as a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
