British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of British forces participating in this operation for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many British personnel on duty over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
