RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts down to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who threaten our security, highlights how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
