Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey added. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how British military are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
