RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several entry passages down to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," he commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
