RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several entry passages leading to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
