RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several entry passages leading to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
