Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several entry passages leading to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who threaten our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
