Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of a great many UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove militants who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
