RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the facility... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey said. "Including them were a great many British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
