Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of access tunnels leading to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - established jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military conducted what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
