British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in hills just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of approach shafts down to the site... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," he commented. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, highlights how British military are ready to step up, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the US military carried out what it called a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
