British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in hills just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a several approach shafts down to the facility... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their courage," he commented. "They were part of thousands of UK service members stationed over the festive period. This action, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
