British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of entry passages leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces participating in this operation for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This action, to remove militants who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria, following an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
