Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of entry passages down to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," he added. "They were part of thousands of British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
