Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels down to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among numerous British personnel deployed over the festive period. This action, to remove militants who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
