British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several entry passages leading to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, following an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
