RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey added. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces executed what it called a "major assault" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
