Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several entry passages down to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "They were among numerous UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
