Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of thousands of British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
