Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their courage," Healey added. "They were part of numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
