British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several entry passages leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
