RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels leading to the site... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
