British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several access tunnels down to the site... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their bravery," Healey said. "They were part of thousands of UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
