British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several approach shafts providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their courage," he said. "They were part of a great many British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, highlights how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
