RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, located using surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of British forces involved in this operation for their skill and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our way of life, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
