Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several approach shafts down to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," he commented. "They were part of thousands of UK service members deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, highlights how British military are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
