RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of approach shafts down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British personnel stationed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
