British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts down to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he said. "They were among thousands of UK service members on duty over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
