Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of entry passages leading to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this strike for their skill and their bravery," Healey said. "Including them were a great many British troops on duty over the festive period. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, following an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
