Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of thousands of UK service members on duty over the festive period. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
