Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels leading to the depot... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many British personnel on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
