Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several approach shafts down to the facility... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces conducted what it called a "major assault" targeting IS targets in the country, following an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
