British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces participating in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This mission, to take out militants who endanger our safety, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
