Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - imposed militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," he said. "They were among thousands of British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
