British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their valour," he said. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
