RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
During December, the US military executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
