British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several entry passages providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey said. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
