Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
