Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," he commented. "They were among thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove militants who threaten our safety, shows how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
