RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
