British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts down to the site... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military carried out what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
