RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels down to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," Healey said. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the US military conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
