British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several entry passages leading to the depot... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members on duty over the holidays. This action, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military executed what it called a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
