Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "They were among a great many British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.