British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several entry passages leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many British personnel stationed over the holidays. This mission, to take out militants who threaten our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
