British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "They were among a great many British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military executed what it termed a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
