British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, 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 hit a series of access tunnels leading to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over the festive period. This action, to take out militants who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces executed what it described as a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
