British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages down to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were among numerous UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, following an attack killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
