British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountains just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," Healey commented. "They were among a great many British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
