RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages leading to the site... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "They were part of thousands of British personnel stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
