RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - also known as ISIS - imposed militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, after an assault killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
