Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The site, located using surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he added. "They were part of thousands of British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
