British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
