RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of access tunnels leading to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," he commented. "They were among thousands of UK service members deployed over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
