Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several approach shafts down to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our safety, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
