RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - established militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their courage," he commented. "Including them were a great many British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "major assault" targeting IS targets in the country, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
