British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of entry passages leading to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
