RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of approach shafts down to the facility... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
