RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of access tunnels providing entry to the site... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
