RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of access tunnels down to the facility... early reports suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he commented. "They were part of thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, shows how British military are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN says Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
