British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels down to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of British forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their valour," he said. "They were part of thousands of UK service members stationed over the holidays. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
