RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts down to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
