Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several approach shafts leading to the site... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," he said. "They were among a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
