Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "Including them were a great many British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
