British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
