Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft 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 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 historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of access tunnels leading to the site... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove militants who endanger our safety, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
