Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of entry passages down to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
