RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts down to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of British forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their bravery," Healey said. "Including them were thousands of UK service members on duty over the holidays. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military executed what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
