RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," he said. "They were part of thousands of British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
