RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey added. "They were among a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
