RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to take out militants who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
