British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using intelligence, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was situated 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 providing entry to the facility... initial indications indicate the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how British military are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
