Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several access tunnels leading to the depot... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this mission for their skill and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
In December, the US military carried out what it termed a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
