Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of access tunnels down to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate militants who endanger our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
