Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous UK service members on duty over the festive period. This action, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
