RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, located using surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels down to the facility... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their valour," he said. "Including them were a great many British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, following an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN reports Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
