Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels down to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of British forces participating in this operation for their skill and their valour," Healey added. "Including them were thousands of UK service members stationed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
