Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," Healey added. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
