Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts down to the facility... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, highlights how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
