Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our security, shows how British military are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
