British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels leading to the depot... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," he commented. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how British military are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
