RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several entry passages down to the depot... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
