RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages leading to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many British troops deployed over the festive period. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
