RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how British military are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, following an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
