Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several access tunnels down to the facility... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel stationed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
