RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
