Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," Healey added. "They were part of a great many British troops on duty over the festive period. This action, to take out militants who threaten our safety, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in the country, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
