Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
