British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels providing entry to the site... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," he added. "Including them were a great many UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
