British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of access tunnels down to the facility... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
