RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
