British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts down to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - enforced militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," he said. "They were part of thousands of British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
