RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels down to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent 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 all the members of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their valour," Healey added. "Including them were thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This action, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
