Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of approach shafts leading to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military 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 strike for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
