RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how British military are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
