RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of British forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "They were among a great many UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our security, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, after an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
