RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
During December, the US military executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
