RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, located using intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several approach shafts leading to the depot... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their valour," he commented. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
