Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of entry passages providing entry to the facility... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous UK service members on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
