RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many British troops deployed over the festive period. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
