British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages leading to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - enforced militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
