Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels down to the site... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
