RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," he added. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how British military are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
