Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several entry passages providing entry to the depot... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous UK service members stationed over the festive period. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
