RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the site... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "They were among numerous UK service members on duty over the holidays. This action, to take out militants who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
