RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels leading to the depot... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of British forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," he said. "Including them were numerous UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
