Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts down to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
