British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several access tunnels leading to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions 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 extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this strike for their skill and their bravery," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, after an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
