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 IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he said. "They were among numerous British personnel stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove militants who endanger our way of life, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
