British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages down to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he added. "They were part of thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
