Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages down to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who threaten our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
During December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
