RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several entry passages providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - established extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of UK service members deployed over the holidays. This mission, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the US military conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
