RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," he said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our security, shows how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
