Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of access tunnels down to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," he added. "Including them were numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
