British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels leading to the depot... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among a great many British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the US military conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
