British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of entry passages leading to the site... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their valour," he added. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our safety, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
