Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, following an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
