Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as Daesh - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he added. "They were part of a great many British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
