RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
