Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he said. "They were part of thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
