RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
