RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - established jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "Including them were numerous UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
