Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several entry passages down to the facility... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their courage," Healey said. "They were among a great many British troops deployed over the holidays. This mission, to remove militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military executed what it called a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
