Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," he commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "major assault" targeting IS targets in the country, after an attack killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
