RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts leading to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
In December, the US military conducted what it called a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
