Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of thousands of British personnel stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
