British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of access tunnels leading to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
