British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," he added. "They were among thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
During December, the US military executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
