Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several access tunnels down to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among a great many British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
