Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of thousands of British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our security, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it called a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
