Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "They were among numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
