RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several access tunnels leading to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey added. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
