RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
