RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who threaten our security, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
During December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
