RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages down to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "Including them were numerous UK service members on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an assault killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
