RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike 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 assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of entry passages leading to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among a great many UK service members deployed over the holidays. This mission, to take out militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
