RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels down to the site... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of thousands of British personnel deployed over the festive period. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our security, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
