RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, shows how British military are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
