Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
