Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of access tunnels leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of a great many British troops on duty over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
