Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of approach shafts leading to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
