RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations says IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
