Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several entry passages down to the site... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey said. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
