Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of entry passages down to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey added. "Including them were numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military conducted what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
