RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of approach shafts leading 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 attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey said. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
