RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of access tunnels leading to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the US military executed what it called a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
