Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "They were among numerous UK service members stationed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military executed what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
