RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of approach shafts providing entry to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," he commented. "They were part of a great many British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
