RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several approach shafts down to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as ISIS - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
