British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," Healey added. "They were among thousands of UK service members stationed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it described as a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
