British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several access tunnels down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," he commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our safety, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
