British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
