Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts providing entry to the site... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how British military are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military executed what it termed a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
