RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he added. "They were part of thousands of British troops deployed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
