Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous UK service members on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
In December, the US military conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting IS targets in the country, after an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
