RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, located using intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several entry passages down to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many British troops on duty over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
In December, the US military executed what it termed a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
