Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their valour," he said. "They were among numerous UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate militants who endanger our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, after an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
