RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of access tunnels providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their valour," Healey said. "They were among numerous UK service members on duty over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
