British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of entry passages down to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
