British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their valour," he said. "They were among numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
