RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several approach shafts providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," he added. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the US military conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
