Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of access tunnels down to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who threaten our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
