RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several access tunnels leading to the site... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces executed what it called a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
