RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
