RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several access tunnels providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "major assault" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
