Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports are that 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 safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of a great many UK service members on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
