RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over the holidays. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
