Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory used by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages down to the site... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as ISIS - established jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, after an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
