British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols 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 the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military executed what it described as a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
