RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several entry passages down to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," Healey commented. "Including them were thousands of UK service members deployed over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
