RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation 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 surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of entry passages leading to the facility... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he said. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
