British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a series of entry passages providing entry to the facility... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their bravery," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the US military conducted what it called a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, following an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
