RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of approach shafts down to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey added. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
