British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several entry passages providing entry to the facility... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," he added. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
