Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our security, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
