Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages leading to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous UK service members deployed over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, after an attack killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
