Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he added. "They were part of a great many UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, highlights how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
