British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several entry passages providing entry to the facility... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of thousands of UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
