RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts leading to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this operation for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
