British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of access tunnels down to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were thousands of UK service members deployed over the festive period. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
