Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
