RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over the festive period. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
