Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate militants who pose a risk to our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Islamic State still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
