RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of access tunnels down to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," he added. "They were part of a great many British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, highlights how British military are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
