Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
