RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many British troops on duty over the festive period. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces executed what it called a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
