British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels down to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," he commented. "They were among numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, after an assault killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
