British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of approach shafts down to the site... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he said. "Including them were thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
