Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts down to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were part of numerous UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
