British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
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 Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
