Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of entry passages down to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
