Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several approach shafts leading to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
