RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The location, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts down to the facility... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their bravery," Healey added. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over the holidays. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how British military are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the US military conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
