RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels down to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove 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 powerful internationally."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
