Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - established jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," he said. "Including them were a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out militants who endanger our safety, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it called a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
