Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of entry passages providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of UK service members on duty over the holidays. This action, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
