RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts down to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
