British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of access tunnels down to the site... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of thousands of British personnel stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the US military executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
