British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of thousands of UK service members deployed over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
