RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This action, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
