British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several access tunnels down to the depot... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," Healey added. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, after an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
