RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
