Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the IS group, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels down to the site... early reports indicate the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the US military carried out what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
