RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages down to the depot... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were numerous British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
