Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of entry passages down to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - imposed militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove militants who endanger our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
In December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
