British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
