RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of British forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
