British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several entry passages down to the site... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," he said. "Including them were a great many British personnel stationed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, highlights how British military are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces executed what it described as a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
