RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of entry passages down to the depot... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces executed what it called a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, after an attack killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
