RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, shows how British military are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN reports Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
