British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their skill and their bravery," he said. "Including them were a great many UK service members on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
