British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," he commented. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
