RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," he commented. "They were part of thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
