RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "Including them were a great many British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate militants who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
