Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an underground arms cache in Syria used by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several entry passages down to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" against IS targets in Syria, following an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
