British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of approach shafts down to the site... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions 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 must thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
