British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, highlights how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an assault killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
