RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
