Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several entry passages providing entry to the depot... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how British military are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it called a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
