Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts providing entry to the site... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their courage," he said. "Including them were numerous UK service members deployed over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
