RAF Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their valour," he 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, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces executed what it called a "major assault" targeting IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
