RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," Healey added. "Including them were thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
During December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
