British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of approach shafts down to the facility... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous UK service members on duty over the holidays. This operation, to take out militants who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
