Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many British personnel on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
