RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces executed what it called a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
