Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many British personnel deployed over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who threaten our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
