Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he commented. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
