Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several entry passages leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their skill and their courage," he commented. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
