RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of access tunnels leading to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over the festive period. This mission, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
