British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "They were part of a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
