Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels leading to the site... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the US military conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, following an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN says Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
