Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
