Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," he commented. "They were part of thousands of UK service members on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
