RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the site... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the festive period. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
