British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several entry passages leading to the depot... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," he said. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
