RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," Healey said. "They were part of thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces carried out what it called a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
