British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of entry passages down to the facility... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who threaten our safety, shows how British military are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
