RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of thousands of UK service members on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
