RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of access tunnels down to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of thousands of British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our safety, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
