RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of access tunnels leading to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," he said. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
During December, the US military executed what it termed a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
