RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of entry passages down to the facility... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
