RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the IS group, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of entry passages down to the facility... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the US military conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
