Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of access tunnels down to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces executed what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
