Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
