British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of entry passages down to the facility... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he added. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
