RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of entry passages down to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
