British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an underground arms cache in Syria employed by the IS group, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of approach shafts down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "They were part of numerous UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
During December, the US military conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
