British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the site... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their bravery," Healey said. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
