British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several entry passages providing entry to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey added. "They were among a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it called a "major assault" targeting IS targets in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
