RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
