RAF Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels down to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he said. "They were among a great many British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our safety, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
