Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels down to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," he commented. "Including them were numerous UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how British military are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
