RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members on duty over the festive period. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
