British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several entry passages leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who threaten our way of life, shows how British military are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
