British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike 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 believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages leading to the depot... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "They were part of thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces executed what it called a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
