RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels providing entry to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
