British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the site... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were part of a great many UK service members on duty over the holidays. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, shows how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
