RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their bravery," he added. "Including them were a great many British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, highlights how British military are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
