RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several entry passages leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as Daesh - imposed militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces participating in this operation for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "They were part of thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
