Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the US military executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
