British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several entry passages down to the site... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the US military carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
