RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," Healey said. "Including them were thousands of UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
