Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of entry passages down to the facility... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "They were among numerous British personnel stationed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces carried out what it called a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
