Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who threaten our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
