British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, located using intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he said. "Including them were numerous UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
