RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria used by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of access tunnels down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "They were among thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, shows how British military are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
