Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our safety, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in the country, following an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
