RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of entry passages providing entry to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
