Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
