British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of entry passages leading to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey said. "They were among numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove militants who endanger our way of life, highlights how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
