Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of entry passages providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," Healey said. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
