British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of thousands of British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
