British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of approach shafts leading to the site... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their valour," he said. "They were part of a great many British personnel on duty over the holidays. This mission, to remove militants who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale 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 UN reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
