Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of access tunnels leading to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
