British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
