Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, shows how British military are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
