Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
