Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the site... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," he said. "They were part of a great many UK service members on duty over the festive period. This action, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how British military are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
