RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, located using surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our security, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
