Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of access tunnels providing entry to the site... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "Including them were thousands of British personnel deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, after an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
