British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts down to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British troops on duty over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
During December, the US military carried out what it termed a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
