RAF Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of access tunnels down to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who endanger our way of life, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces executed what it described as a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
