RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment 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 carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," he added. "They were among a great many British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
