British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of entry passages down to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our way of life, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
