British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several access tunnels down to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it termed a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
