British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," Healey said. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out militants who threaten our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
