RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels down to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military executed what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
