British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, located using surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages leading to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he said. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to take out militants who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
