RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several entry passages providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
