British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a number of entry passages down to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their skill and their bravery," he added. "They were part of numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, after an assault killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
