British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several approach shafts leading to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - imposed militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of British forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "They were part of thousands of British personnel stationed over the festive period. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the American forces executed what it described as a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
