Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "They were part of numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who threaten our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military executed what it described as a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
