British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several access tunnels leading to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were among numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, shows how British military are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the US military conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
