British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
