RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," he added. "They were part of numerous British personnel on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN reports Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
