RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," he commented. "They were among thousands of UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
