British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "major assault" against IS targets in Syria, after an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
