British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used 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 civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "Including them were thousands of British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our security, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
