RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of access tunnels down to the depot... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over the festive period. This action, to remove militants who threaten our security, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
