British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
