British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of entry passages providing entry to the depot... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," he added. "They were among a great many British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
