Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their valour," Healey added. "They were among numerous British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
