RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels leading to the facility... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over the festive period. This action, to remove militants who threaten our way of life, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an assault killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
