RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The location, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of entry passages leading to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," he commented. "They were part of thousands of UK service members deployed over the holidays. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the US military conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
