RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several access tunnels down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among numerous British personnel deployed over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
