RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of entry passages leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
In December, the US military carried out what it termed a "major assault" targeting IS targets in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
