RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of entry passages down to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel on duty over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who threaten our safety, shows how British military are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria, after an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
