British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels down to the site... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - established extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
