Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels providing entry to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," he added. "They were among thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
