Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of access tunnels down to the facility... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many British personnel deployed over the festive period. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, highlights how British military are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
