RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of approach shafts down to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This mission, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
