Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," he said. "Including them were thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate militants who endanger our safety, shows how British military are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
In December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
