Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of entry passages leading to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British troops deployed over the festive period. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
