Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - imposed militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were part of thousands of UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, following an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
