RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of approach shafts down to the site... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," he commented. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over the holidays. This action, to take out militants who endanger our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, after an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in both countries.
