British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels down to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their valour," he added. "Including them were thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This mission, to take out militants who endanger our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
