RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several entry passages down to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their valour," he added. "They were part of numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
In December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
