Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," he said. "Including them were thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
