RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of approach shafts leading to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "They were among thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed 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 interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
