British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - established extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," he commented. "They were part of numerous UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, shows how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
