Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," Healey added. "They were part of thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
