British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts down to the site... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," Healey commented. "They were among thousands of British personnel deployed over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who endanger our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
