British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," he said. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.