British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages down to the depot... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their bravery," Healey added. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
