RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several entry passages leading to the site... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
