RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts down to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "They were among numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an assault killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
