Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military executed what it termed a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
