RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, located using surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of access tunnels leading to the depot... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
