Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, located using surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several access tunnels leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," he added. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
