RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located 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 approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of British forces involved in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of thousands of British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces executed what it termed a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
