British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts down to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
