British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several entry passages providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, shows how British military are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
