Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the IS group, as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," he added. "They were part of numerous UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
