RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," Healey commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel deployed over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how British military are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
