RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, 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 region," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," he said. "Including them were numerous UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
