RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of entry passages leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "They were among thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who threaten our safety, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
