RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of approach shafts down to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "They were among a great many British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
