British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of entry passages down to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey said. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
In December, the US military carried out what it termed a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
