RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of British forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," he added. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over the holidays. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
