RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of British forces involved in this mission for their skill and their courage," Healey commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate militants who threaten our way of life, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
