British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - established extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," he added. "They were among numerous UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces executed what it described as a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
