British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - established jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he said. "They were part of numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This action, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
