RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of approach shafts providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military executed what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
