Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several entry passages providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," he added. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
