Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "Including them were a great many British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to take out militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
