Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their valour," Healey said. "They were part of thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our safety, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an attack killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
