RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "Including them were numerous British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how British military are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
