Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes 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 site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of entry passages leading to the site... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
