British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
