Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts down to the site... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - established jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
