British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts down to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their valour," he added. "Including them were thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the US military executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
