Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," he added. "They were among numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
