Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of access tunnels down to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their valour," he added. "They were part of thousands of British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
