Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages providing entry to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military executed what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
