British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military conducted what it termed a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
