RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several access tunnels leading to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
