RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many UK service members on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
