British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several access tunnels leading to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
In December, the US military executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
