Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an underground arms cache in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several access tunnels leading to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
