British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of British forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," he added. "Including them were numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out militants who threaten our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
