RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of entry passages down to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," Healey added. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how British military are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
