RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, shows how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
