RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military executed what it called a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
