Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of entry passages providing entry to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this operation for their skill and their valour," he said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
