British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages down to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, following an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
