Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of entry passages providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many British personnel stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN says IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
