RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several approach shafts providing entry to the site... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," he added. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
