Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
