Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," he said. "They were among thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
