RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members stationed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, shows how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
