RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces conducted what it called a "major assault" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
