Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," Healey added. "Including them were a great many British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the US military executed what it described as a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
