Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey said. "They were among thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our security, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
