Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," he said. "They were among thousands of UK service members on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
