British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," Healey said. "They were part of a great many British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
