Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he added. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
