RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several entry passages leading to the site... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their courage," Healey added. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
