RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages providing entry to the site... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
