Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their courage," Healey added. "Including them were numerous British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
