RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their courage," Healey added. "They were among numerous UK service members on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
