Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the US military conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
