Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces involved in this strike for their skill and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
