RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
