RAF Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of approach shafts down to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey added. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This action, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military executed what it called a "major assault" against IS targets in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
