Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages down to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their valour," he commented. "They were part of numerous UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.
