RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," he said. "Including them were a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an attack killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
