British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," he commented. "Including them were numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
