RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of entry passages down to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their courage," Healey added. "Including them were numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
