RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages leading to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
