RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several approach shafts down to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
