RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey added. "They were part of thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
