Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several entry passages providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their courage," he said. "They were among a great many British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our safety, shows how British military are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
