British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several entry passages providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
