British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of access tunnels providing entry to the site... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among a great many British troops on duty over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
