Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, located using surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages leading to the depot... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "They were part of numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
