British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of entry passages leading to the site... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, following an attack killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
