Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several approach shafts leading to the site... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he added. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
