RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of approach shafts down to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," Healey added. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
