RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above the historic site 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 site... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - established jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey added. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who endanger our safety, shows how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
In December, the US military executed what it called a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
