British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, located using intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of entry passages leading to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - established militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
