Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages down to the site... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of IS after its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
