British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several access tunnels providing entry to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night 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 - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their valour," he commented. "Including them were a great many British personnel deployed over the festive period. This action, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
