British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several entry passages down to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he said. "They were among a great many British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
