RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of approach shafts down to the site... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, after an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
