RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of entry passages providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of British forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," he added. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out militants who threaten our security, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
