Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several access tunnels down to the site... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he said. "They were among thousands of British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
