Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages leading to the site... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces executed what it called a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
