Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of access tunnels down to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
