RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages leading to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," he said. "They were among numerous UK service members on duty over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the US military conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
