Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several approach shafts providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the US military conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
