RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, highlights how British military are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an attack killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
