Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their valour," he commented. "They were among a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
