Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... 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 to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, shows how British military are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
