RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of approach shafts leading to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," he said. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military carried out what it termed a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
