RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many British personnel deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the US military conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
