RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
