RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages leading to the facility... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among a great many UK service members deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
