Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages leading to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many British troops on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
