RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their valour," Healey said. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
