RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels leading to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their valour," Healey added. "Including them were a great many UK service members on duty over the festive period. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
