Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of access tunnels leading to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
