Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their valour," he added. "Including them were numerous British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the US military conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
