British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of access tunnels providing entry to the site... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British personnel on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out militants who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
