RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages leading to the facility... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
