British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
