Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - established militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the US military executed what it called a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
