British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a several entry passages down to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," he said. "They were among thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the US military executed what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
