British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were a great many British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
