Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as Daesh - established extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many British personnel on duty over the festive period. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
