RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces participating in this mission for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
