RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their valour," he added. "They were among numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
