RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," he added. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This action, to take out militants who threaten our safety, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
