RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several approach shafts leading to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their courage," Healey added. "Including them were thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our security, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
