British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in hills just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey commented. "Including them were thousands of UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
