British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of approach shafts leading to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among a great many British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
