RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts leading to the site... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous British personnel stationed over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
