Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of approach shafts down to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to take out militants who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
