British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several entry passages providing entry to the site... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "They were part of thousands of British personnel stationed over the festive period. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the US military conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
