Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts 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 late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their valour," he commented. "They were among numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
