British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," he added. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
