RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of British forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
