Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an underground arms cache in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, according to the UK's MoD.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of access tunnels leading to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
