RAF Typhoons tonight bombed ISIS targets in Syria in a joint operation with France, the Ministry of Defence said.
The target was an underground facility that had been occupied by Daesh, and was suspected to have been used to store weapons.
Guided bombs were used to blitz a number of tunnels leading into the site, set in the mountains region near the ancient central city of Palmyra, after ‘careful intelligence analysis’.
The facility had been most likely used to store weapons and explosives, and there were no civilians living in surrounding area, the Ministry said.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK was determined to ‘stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies’ to ‘stamp out any resurgence’ of the terrorist movement, also known as the Islamic State.
He thanked members of the armed forces involved in the operation ‘to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life’.
The mission saw RAF Typhoon FGR4s and a Voyager refuelling tanker deployed alongside French aircraft on Saturday evening.
Paveway IV guided bombs were dropped on precise targets – and the MOD said initial indications are that the mission was a success.
A Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft is seen here preparing to take-off before joining a mission to strike an ISIS-occupied base in Syria
Royal Air Force pilots are seen here preparing Typhoon aircraft before take-off
A Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft seen here at take-off ahead of the planned strike
The joint action by British and French allies follows the lead of the US, which last month carried out a ‘massive strike’ on ISIS in Syria in response to a deadly attack on American forces in the country.
American forces struck over 70 targets in the country linked to the terror organisation.
Among them were IS fighter compounds, weapon dumps and other infrastructure, with Jordanian fighter jets supporting what was dubbed Operation Hawkeye Strike.
It was touted as ‘vengeance’ for the killings of two National Guard members and an interpreter on December 13 in an attack on a convoy in the town of Palmyra.
Three American soldiers were also wounded.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.