RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey said. "They were part of thousands of UK service members deployed over the holidays. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military carried out what it termed a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
