British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several entry passages leading to the site... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces participating in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous UK service members on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the US military conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
