British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages down to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members deployed over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
