Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels leading to the depot... initial indications are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many British personnel deployed over the festive period. This mission, to take out militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
