Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
