RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence 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 FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
