RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, after an assault killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
