RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several access tunnels down to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey added. "Including them were numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This action, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
