British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, located using surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he said. "They were among numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate militants who threaten our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
