British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several approach shafts down to the site... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of UK service members deployed over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the US military conducted what it termed a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
