RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of access tunnels providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
