RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts leading to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz 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 bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, following an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
