RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "They were among a great many British personnel deployed over the festive period. This action, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
