Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels leading to the site... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many British personnel on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
