RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of entry passages providing entry to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out militants who threaten our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
