RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several entry passages down to the depot... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their courage," he added. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces carried out what it called a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
