RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts leading to the site... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who threaten our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
