British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several entry passages leading to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," he added. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, shows how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
