British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS 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 who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who endanger our safety, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
