RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
