RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many British troops deployed over the festive period. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
