RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels down to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - imposed militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of British forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our security, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
