RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several entry passages down to the facility... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - enforced militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
