Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their valour," Healey added. "Including them were a great many UK service members deployed over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the US military conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
