RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of access tunnels down to the site... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
