RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of entry passages down to the facility... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
