Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several entry passages providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of British forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
