British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several entry passages down to the site... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, shows how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, following an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
