Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," he added. "They were among thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
