British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the site... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military executed what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
