British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts providing entry to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," he added. "They were among thousands of British personnel stationed over the festive period. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
